The Sanisera Archaeology Institute for International Field Schools offers over 20 international courses focusing on archaeology, anthropology, GIS, underwater archaeology, conservation, art, museums and archaeological film. Student's fieldwork centers on the survey and excavation of classical sites. - See more at: http://archaeology.institute

Our commitment is to promote Archaeology in its different aspects of research, training, and conservation, with a basic and clear purpose: to involve anyone from around the world who wishes to gain access to this scientific field. Sanisera is an international archaeological organization whose main aim is that of promoting and developing research , so that our current and future generations can be enriched by culture and education in this field.

We are not only in Spain, but we also have courses in Greece, Portugal, France, UK, Croatia, Turkey and Italy. We offer students more than 20 courses that can enrich their CVs, validate university credits and get recommendation letters to enter the job market or get into prestigious scientific research centers.

Our work is focused on the archaeological study of ancient cities, anthropology, osteology, digging graves, conservation in archaeology, art, museums, excavate shipwrecks and submerged cities of ancient ports in the underwater school in archaeology, how to make a movie, learning GIS Software for archaeologists and discovering the most important monuments from Ancient civilizations such as Athens and Rome.

The Sanisera Archaeology Institute for International Field Schools offers an annual archaeology dig on the island of Menorca, off the coast of Spain. This course is for students who come from all over the world to study abroad and who are interested in biological anthropology and want to learn how to produce a video documentary and film studies related to archaeology.

This program is divided in two main parts. In the first part of the course students will gain experience in biological anthropology in the tombs of Sanisera. During the second part, students will learn about the process of creating a documentary.

Part 1. Bioarchaeology in the Necropolis of Sanisera (Menorca, Spain)Death in Rome has been studied in Sanisera since we started digging the first necropolis in 2008. So far we have excavated 72 tombs belonging to a Roman cemetery which could have been related to a basilica in the Roman city if Sanisera, which dates from the 4th and 6th centuries AD. The Osteology corpus in this necropolis includes more than 270 individuals.

The fieldwork focuses on funerary structures, specifically inhumation graves. Participants will learn and apply excavation techniques used in biological anthropology when excavating tombs. Students will also participate in lectures on skeletal anatomy and pathologies, classes, exercises and excursions related to the course material. In the laboratory participants will be instructed by an anthropologist and other archaeologists in the classification, study, and conservation of human remains and other related materials found.

Time dedicated to this part of the program: 50%.

Part 2. The archaeological video documentaryThis film program consists of two main parts. The first one deals with filming a video documentary so that the audience can get to know more about the archaeological findings, the history of the site and the archaeological work carried out both on site and in the laboratory. In the second part of the course students who participate in this course will learn about the process of creating a documentary: preparing the plot, shooting on the site, selection of scenes, editing the video documentary and sound, as well as different elements regarding audiovisuals.

Time dedicated to this part of the program: 50%.

What you will learn

In the Fieldwork

How to dig and which archaeological techniques are used.

Use and handling of the tools that are used during the excavation process.

Basic principles of stratigraphy.

Basic procedures for collecting C14 samples.

Preparing the plot for a video documentary.

Shooting on the site.

In the Laboratory

Cleaning, Inventory and cataloging of recovered human bones during the excavation process.

Basics of the methods used in human osteological analysis, including skeletal anatomy, palaeodemography and palaeopathology.

Learning how to identify age, sex and height of buried individuals.

Relative dating based on the classification of archaeological artifacts discovered in stratigraphic sequence.

Minorcan archaeology before the Roman conquest of the Balearic Islands.

Filming a video documentary.

Directed atIf you study anthropology or are interested in studying tombs for the first time, or are interested in studying human remains while also learning concepts of film, editing and video production, this course is a good option for you. This program accommodates participants with or without previous experience.

The combination of anthropology and assembling a documentary related to the research and fieldwork in which you participate will give you experience in how to communicate and present your work with the highest quality, be it university projects, personal projects or just learning more about communication tools that are increasingly more frequently used.

This program centers on the excavation of the Roman necropolis of Sanisera. During the first half of the course, participants learn to excavate tombs and in the laboratory learn how to analyze and classify archaeological material, mainly human remains and grave goods discovered during the excavation. During the second half, participants will use the experience they gain in the first part of the course to create a script and produce an archaeological video documentary centered on Roman archaeology following the guidance of an expert.

You will have the opportunity to film real live footage of the excavation of the Roman necropolis of Sanisera and the discovered archaeological material studied such as human remains and grave goods in the laboratory. This program takes place on a Mediterranean island with unique and pristine scenery, next to the sea and stunning Mediterranean landscapes.

Previous knowledge or experience in archaeology or computer systems is not required.

Field School life & languageThe first half of the course will focus on the excavation in the roman necropolis of Sanisera, where they will work for 8 days. The fieldwork runs 7 hours a day with time dedicated to both excavations, the study of human osteology by the analysis of the skeletal remains and laboratory work on roman pottery.

After the fieldwork in the Necropolis, students will also dedicate 7 hours per day to both video footage while the archaeologists are excavating, and the processing of the digital documentation in order to create the archaeological documentary film.

Participants will also be given lectures on methodology regarding film productions, movie trailers and some examples of the best films about Archaeology.

Participants will also visit archaeological sites on the island through organized excursions. Courses are given in both English and Spanish. For every seven course days there are two days off.

CertificatesAt the end of the Field Program, students will receive a certificate of participation stating the hours and activities of the course. Participants that perform exceedingly well in the course may receive a letter of recommendation from our organization upon request.

Spaces avalaibleThe course is limited to 6 participants per session. Reservations are only effective when payment of the registration fee is received. If for any reason the course is cancelled, payment is returned according to the field school refund policy.